Bellaire Woods Nature Preserve

History

The Seiders family donated this property to the Conservancy in 1999. An additional 14 acres were added in 2006.

Planning Your Walk

A well-worn cobbly path strewn with emerging trout lilies in early spring leads directly into the woods from the parking lot. Once in the woods, the trail splits, creating a figure eight looping out to the newer trail. The total trail length is estimated at 1.4 miles.

Watershed Facts

Unnamed stream on preserve drains north to Conewago Creek, to Susquehanna River, to Chesapeake Bay.

Flora

Excellent for spring native wildflowers. About three dozen wildflowers typical of Lancaster County bloom during late April, early May. Three plants are relatively uncommon elsewhere: dog violet (Viola conspersa), sand violet (V. adunca), and goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), an unusual apetalous member of the buttercup family. In early spring the forest floor is a carpet of every common wildflower of our area except trillium and Virginia bluebells.

Spring Wildflowers

Common fern species number nine or ten, but there are unusually large numbers of rattlesnake fern and an occasional uncommon leathery grape fern (Botrychium multifidum).

Relatively tall, straight specimens of beech, tulip poplar, sycamore, and several oak and hickory species. About a dozen additional species of potentially very tall trees plus an almost equal number of understory varieties like redbud (Cercis canadensis), ironwood (Ostrya virginiana), pawpaw (Asimina triloba), and spice bush (Lindera benzoin).

Seasonal Info

Spring: Native woodland wildflowers

Summer: Cool stream microclimates

Autumn: Colorful fall foliage

Fauna

The small stream is home to caddis flies and water stridders, plus chubs and dace, indicative of good water quality. Look for footprints of deer and raccoons in the soft streamside earth.

Hunting Regulations

Bellaire Woods is a designated “Archery Only” hunting spot.
It is unlawful to discharge a rifle or single projectile firearm at this preserve.
Violators will be charged as defiant trespassers. PA. C.S. 18 SS 3503(b)
Hunters attempting to recover wildlife are not permitted to enter private property without permission.

Directions

From Lancaster, follow PA 283 west to Elizabethtown/Rheems exit. North on Cloverleaf Rd, which becomes Green-tree Rd, for 2.2 miles to “T” intersection with Elizabethtown Rd. Right on Elizabethtown Rd. Right on Elizabethtown Rd, then first left onto Prospect Rd, one mile to parking area on right.

Gently sloping, relatively open 52.4 acre third-growth woods. Huge boulders cover the lower end, creating picturesque vistas, microclimates for plants, and animal refuges. A well-worn cobbly path strewn with emerging trout lilies in early spring leads directly into the woods from the parking lot. Once in the woods, the trail splits, creating a figure eight looping out to the newer trail.

Boyer Nature Preserve includes 9.6 acres along an important wildlife corridor and is relatively undisturbed, wooded and overgrown with thickets. The trail on this preserve can become impassable in summer due to the dense foliage of multiflora rose. Even in winter and early spring, the steepness of the hillside makes walking challenging.

This is a recreation managed preserve Size: approximately 82.808 acres History The old stone farmhouse and bank barn were built in the 1860’s.The Snyder family donated the farm to the Boys and Girls Club of Lancaster in the early 1960’s, calling…

Since 1972, Ferncliff has been recognized as a National Natural Landmark, because of the old growth forest that has been maintained here. This preserve’s hillsides offer some of the best examples of River Hills timberland. Tulip trees, beeches, hemlocks, sweet birches, red, chesnut, and white oak, sycamore, sugar and red maple, ironwood, and the glory of Pennsylvania woods, the redbud. In the fall many groves of pawpaw yield succulent, edible fruit. You will also see rhododendron and mountain laurel in abundance.

Fishing Creek North has two hiking trails. The first one starts at the parking area and follows the stream north along the main branch. The second trail starts across the street from the parking area and loops along a rocky ridge which provides a scenic vista of the stream and surrounding area. By walking along Scalpy Hollow Road the trail forms a loop back to the parking area.

Hostas, mock oranges, and huge colonies of daylilies are testimony to former habitation in the valley. A nearby farm was a station on the underground railway, and ruins of a school built by African-Americans can still be seen. The Historical Atlas of Lancaster County notes an African School House located where Fern Creek Road joins Fishing Creek Road. J.W.W. Loose has uncovered evidence of a number of mills along Fishing Creek, most notably Long's sickle and scythe mills, which in 1825 produced tools so superior they drove English products off the market. Local residents anchored boats at the small marina at the mouth of Fishing Creek. First parcel donated by John and Sally Gibson in 1995.

Homewood Nature Preserve includes early successional and mature forest areas. A section of Eshleman Run meanders through the wooded eastern edge of the preserve among mature beech, maple, and oak. Homewood offers a mix of forest and field, gentle rolling hills, cultivated and grassy fields, an old barn, and a woodland valley overlooking Eshleman Run.

A loop trail begins at the parking lot on House Rock Road and circles the property. This trail connects with the Conestoga Trail near the Susquehanna River. A short walk north on the Conestoga Trail leads to House Rock overlook, a magnificent vista of the unspoiled river gorge.

Kelly's Run Pinnacle Nature Preserve has mostly steep climbing from about 400 to 700 feet elevation, but there is a well-used equestrian path, and deer trails. The route along the stream is fairly level.
The westernmost part of the tract, with a small tributary to Kelly's Run, has a cobblestone trail which allows easy access to this beautiful spot.

This is a recreation managed preserve Size approximately 276.252 acres About Otter Creek offers a scenic trail that includes the Mason-Dixon Trail and also leads to the Urey Overlook in Lower Chanceford, York County. Remnants of the great American chestnut…

From western trailhead is a well-marked trail. Walk north, wade across Kettle Run. Continue north to a trail connecting to Horseshoe Trail to create a loop.
From eastern trailhead, walk west from parking area uphill along Horseshoe trail past Conservancy sign at northeast corner of preserve to mountain top. Left on blue-blazed trail downhill to left turn at bottom to follow Kettle Run, then left again uphill back to Horseshoe Trail at Conservancy sign.

Reed Run Nature Preserve's loop trail begins at the parking lot on House Rock Road and circles the property. This trail connects with the Conestoga Trail near the Susquehanna River. A short walk north on the Conestoga Trail leads to the House Rock overlook and a magnificent vista of the unspoiled lower river gorge.

A trail loops through Rock Springs Nature Preserve, but take care around the old water-filled chromite mine pits. Once on the bed of an ancient saltwater sea, geologic forces turned bedrock into a waxy greenish stone called serpentine, useless for crops or pasture. Some small-scale mining exploration for chromite, talc, and stone took place on the property before it was acquired by The Nature Conservancy in the 1990s.

This is a recreation managed preserve Size approximately 85.966 acres About Shenks Ferry Wildflower Preserve is a 85 acre nature preserve along the eastern bank of the Susquehanna River that is well known for its wildflowers. It is the only…

The Shiprock hiking trail and property are just a short drive from Lancaster City. The trail head starts at the property sign and continues uphill through a mature forested canopy, until it loops back around to the same parking area.

There are many deer trails at Steinman Run Nature Preserve, but follow the narrow, less-steep blue-blazed trail to prevent erosion. This trail ascends gradually from a 520' elevation to a 740' elevation among huge trees whose dense shade limits the understory.

This beautiful and heavily wooded ravine is well-known to nature-lovers and biologists. Clear water tumbles along a fairly steep gradient forming riffles and pools, with a glade and boggy area near an old railroad tunnel at the north end. The 198 acre preserve supports a hemlock grove lush with ferns and foliage.

This is perhaps the most pristine and scenic of the seven ravines which open into the Susquehanna River in this area. A rhododendron and hemlock canopied trail follows Tucquan Creek from River Road to the Susquehanna River. The initial two-thirds of this glen is beautiful and peaceful; the lower glen is wild and rugged.

There are no established trails at this preserve. In summer, the only practical route is to walk in the stream. The large parking lot here serves well as a trailhead for hikes to the Rannels Kettle Run Nature Preserve, and on the Horseshoe Trail and Conestoga Trail.

Welsh Mountain Nature Preserve contains 900 acres and encompasses the headwaters of Mill Creek. It is located in East Earl and Salisbury Townships and is one of the few remaining contiguous parcels of forested land in Lancaster County containing interior forest habitat.

Windolph Landing Nature Preserve is accessible from the parking lot at the end of Second Lock Road. The entire property is located on a 65 degree slope, making walking difficult. A stout walking stick and sturdy shoes are absolute requirements.

Yes, I would like to receive emails from Lancaster Conservancy. (You can unsubscribe anytime)

Constant Contact Use.

By submitting this form, you are granting: Lancaster County Conservancy, 117 South West End Avenue, Lancaster, PA, 17603-3396, permission to email you. You may unsubscribe via the link found at the bottom of every email. (See our Email Privacy Policy (http://constantcontact.com/legal/privacy-statement) for details.) Emails are serviced by Constant Contact.